Yoke-key support



July 31, 1923. 1,463,555

v E. POSSON YOKE KEY SUPPORT Filed May 13 1922 2? 2% Ida/0rd foasmz,

Patented July 31, B923.

units era-res EDWARD POSSON, 01F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

YOKE-KEY SUPPORT.

Application filed May 13, 1922. Serial No. 560,534.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD PossoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yoke-Key Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to yoke key supports. I

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable and eflicient yoke key support which is removable but at the same time when once set in supporting position cannot be accidently displaced.

Another object is to provide a yoke key support adapted to meet the various requirements for successful commercial use.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of draft mechanism, including a yoke, coupler and key connecting same and key sup orting means;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same arrangement;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the yoke showing the key and means for supporting the latter; and

Figure 4 is a erspective view of the member which un erlies and directly supports the vertical yoke key.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and will be. particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that I have disclosed my invention in connection with a yoke 10 having upper and lower arms 11 and 12 which, in this instance, are tied together near their forward ends by tie straps 13 and 14. The shank 15 of a coupler is received between the yoke arms and has an opening 16 in vertical alignment with yoke openings 17 and 18 for the reception of a vertical key 19 which forms the draft connection between the coupler and yoke.

This invention has to do primarily with the means for supporting the vertical key 19. Various arrangements have been provided heretofore for supporting such vertical keys, but it is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved key support which may be readily set in sup orting posltion and removed therefrom an at the same time prevented from being accidentally displaced. The invention also contemplates the support of the vertical key without the use of bolts, nuts, pins and the like.

It will be noted that the forward part of the lower yoke arm 12 is provided with two downwardly extending projections 20 and 21 which have laterally extending portions 22 and 23 respectively, which extend toward each other and form shelves or pockets for receiving the key sup-porting member 24. Front and rear walls 25 and 26 cooperate to form the pockets which are bounded on three sides to prevent the accidental displacement of the key supporting member 24. One of the downwardly extending projections 21 is provided with an opening 27 which, it will be noted, has an upper straight portion 28 and a lower curved portion 29 which irregular opening will permit the passage of the key supporting member 24, only when the latter is turned on its longitudinal aXis 180 degrees from the position shown in Figure 4. However, as soon as the key supporting member 24 is passed through the openin 27 into the supporting pocket portions such supporting member 24 is to be rotated on its longitudinal axis 180 degrees, whereupon its lower flat surface rests upon the shelves 22 and 23. It is in such positions as shown in Figure 3 that the vertical key 19 rests upon the supporting member 24 and is supported thereby. From this arrangement it is seen that it will be practically impossible for the key supporting member 24 to be accidentally displaced from its supporting position and at the same time the key supporting member 24 may be easily and quickly placed in supporting position and removed therefrom.

Of course, it will be understood that the key support may be of any other cross-section and the opening in the projection 21 will be shaped accordingly.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In railway draft mechanism, the combination of a yoke, a coupler, a vertical key for connecting said yoke and coupler, said yoke having projections with laterally ex-. 1

tending pocket portions, and a support for said vert1cal key releasably retained in said pocket portions, one of said projections aving an openin through which said support may be passed into said pocketportions only when an-end of said support is inn given angular position with respect to said opening. a 2. In railway draft mechanism, the combifiation of a yoke, a, coupler, a vertical key for connecting said yoke and coupler, said yoke having downwardly extending projections with lateral pocket portions, and an irregularly shaped sup ort for said vertical key releasably retains in said pocket portions, there bein r an opening in one of said projections through which said key support may be passed only when the latter Has a certain relation with respect to said 0 ening for preventing the accidental disp acement of the su port from its supporting position.

Mes es 3. In railway draft mechanism, the combination of a yoke, a coupler, a vertical key for connectin said yoke and coupler, said yoke having downwardiy extending pro ections with lateral pocket portions, an a support for said vertical key releasahly retained in"said pocket portions, there being an opening in one of through which said support may be passed only when the end of the latter has a cer-'" tain relation with respect to said opening,

the he support being turned on its longn tudina xis a given amount after being passed into the pocket portions for supporting said key and preventing the latter from accidental dis lacement. i 4

Si ned at lhicago, Illinois, this 6th day of ay,1922.

nnwann Posson said projections 

